Thiago Mantovani Makes a Bold Move For the Future with Impressive Auction Purchases

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F.O.C.U.S.

Portuguese horse investor, stallion owner, and breeder Thiago Mantovani has expanded the horse stock for his company "Mantovani Horses" with highly impressive purchases at auctions in Holland and Germany.

Jump Start to Success

Mantovani dove into the high performance dressage world in the late 2010s as a passionate Lusitano horse breeder who wants to take his equestrian goals and ambitions to the highest level.

Teamed up with talented Brazilian dressage rider Joao Marcari Oliva, Mantovani saw his flagship Lusitano breeding stallion Escorial achieve greatness by competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Equestrian Games.

With Mantovani's Nuelo and Orion de la Gesse (both by Escorial), Oliva competed at the 2022 and 2024 FEI World Breeding Championships for young dressage horses in Ermelo. Oliva also rode Westfalian Feel Good VO to silver at the 2023 Pan American Games and they represented Brazil at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Diversify and Enhance with Warmblood Purchases

Thiago Mantovani at the 2024 World
Young Horse Championships

Changes in the company and team in 2023 led to Mantovani pursuing his own vision and direction in 2024 with his newly established company, Mantovani Horses.

The enterprise's short-term target is to pursue "significant growth by focusing on high-performance, breeding, and sales, with the Lusitano breed at its core." Thiago also put s diversification on the agenda and wants to enhance his collection of horses by including a select number of world class quality warmbloods.

"We want to expand our portfolio and not only breed the best Lusitanos here in Portugal," Mantovani told Eurodressage. "We are very sport-oriented and have a team of riders in Portugal and Germany representing nations from all over the world. I want to match them with the right horses, so they can lift my brand and be players in the high performance sport world."

Auction Price Highlights

Mantovani is a man of action and put his money where his mouth is. There was no dilly-dallying as he struck the first time buying the most expensive warmblood foal sold at auction this year.

At the 2024 Grand Prix Sales in July in The Netherlands he bought the stallion prospect Untouchable DDH (by Glamourdale x De Niro x Sandro Song) for 115,000 euro. The strapping black colt is the full brother to Marieke van der Putten's rising Grand Prix star Kuvasz RS2.

To make an even bigger impact, Mantovani also secured the most decorated young horse offered at auction this year: the 2024 Bundeschampion Senorita La Bonita. At the 2024 Westfalian Autumn Elite auction he secured the 3-year old Westfalian mare (by Sir Heinrich x Westernhagen) for 550,000 euro. The chestnut mare scored 10 for trot AND canter in Warendorf!

At this same auction he also bought the bronze medal winner of the 2024 Westfalian Elite Mare Show, Valegra (by Valverde x For Romance), for 360,000 euro as well as the 2-year old stallion prospect Be A Star (by Benicio x Dancier) and 4-year old mare Debby Gold (by Dancier Gold x Sir Donnerhall).

Investments for the Future

Although Thiago prefers to see quick results, he knows with horses and dressage sport a long-term vision is required.

"My investments in these amazing foals and young horses are part of a bigger vision. We are looking towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and hopefully Brisbane in 2032. I want to give new, young rising talent a chance and our team has riders from Portugal, Brazil, Germany, Spain, and China. My dream scenario is to have each of them representing their country at major FEI Championships on Mantovani horses. We dream big!"

Martha Fernandes and Thiago Mantovani in Ermelo

Rising talent such as Yara Fernandes (BRA), Martha Fernandes (POR) and children’s rider Maria Eduarda Mantovani (POR) are part of the team with new riders being announcing in the upcoming weeks. They are train under the umbrella of renowned German coach Norbert Van Laak.

Focus on Sales

Mantovani has opened the doors of his stallion station and breeding shed, offering unique in utero foals for sale of proven stallions matched to his Lusitano mares.

In addition, his Lusitano breeding stallions Escorial, Nuelo das Lezirias, Orion de la Gesse, Oporto D’Atela, Diamante Negro, and Pirata Plus will all be standing at stud in 2025.

New addition to Mantovani Horses: Debby Gold

"We have made incredible breeding matches with our Lusitano mares," said Thiago. "We offer for sale around 250 now in utero foals by stallions such as Nuelo, Escorial, Orion, Glamourdale , V-Power, Dynamic Dream, Jovian, and Kjento."

Thiago added, "horse owners looking for the best crosses and willing to invest in unique young horse stock, foals as well as trained young horses, can always reach out to us and visit us here in Portugal. Our doors are open."

Follow @mantovanihorses on Instagram or visit www.mantovanihorses.com